[quote=svelte] SoCal folks don’t even talk about Oroville Dam, but that is a magnificent creation. Shasta and Oroville Dams do an enormous amount to protect everything downstream including Sac and bay areas.
[/quote]

Problems at Oroville – the spillway is collapsing.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Oroville-Dam-spillway-hole-erosion-water-reservoir-10920358.php

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4209546/Nations-tallest-dam-Lake-Oroville-damaged-amid-storms.html

The water is still rising and expected to go over the Emergency Spillway (unpaved) by Saturday.

We’re in uncharted territory here as that spillway has never been used.